Dear Interested Reader,
Indiana NG visits with Afghan generals at Camp Blackhorse. Sea Bees swarm Camp Delaram II with construction. "AFPAK Hands" begin immersion training on Camp Julien. Indiana NG earn German Army proficiency badges.
Iraq: Ninewa PRT at JSS Tal Abtha micro-grant workshop. Students graduate leadership and partnership courses. Suspected AQI criminal assocs. arrested in Kirkuk and Baghdad.
Joanna
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AFGHANISTAN STORIES:
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Indiana NG Visit With Afghan Generals at Pol-e Sharki (Photos by Spc. Matthew McKinney)
CAMP BLACKHORSE - Indiana Army NG Soldier, Sgt. 1st Class Chris McDonald, 38th Inf Div, poses for a cell phone picture with a personal body guard for Maj. Gen. Ziayi of the ANA, while visiting the Regional Ops Coordination Center (ROCC), located at Pol-e Sharki, Kabul, April 29.
(L-R) Capt. Christopher De La Torre, 759th MP Bn, receives a token of appreciation from Maj. Gen. Ziayi and Gen. Jamshed of the ANP for his work as the Dep. Officer at the ROCC.
Indiana Army NG Soldier, Sgt. 1st Class Chris McDonald, 38th ID, shows a picture to his friends in the ANA.
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Sea Bees Swarm Camp Delaram II With Construction
Koontz commented that he loves his job. Along with building structures aboard camps, Koontz has done humanitarian work with other units throughout the Navy. "We get to help people," said Koontz. "We build things that they can't afford; schools, churches, houses." Koontz has participated in humanitarian projects in Manila, Okinawa and Indonesia.
Story by Sgt. Dorian Gardner
Seaman Justin March, a builder with Naval Mobile Construction Bn 133, uses a tape measure to check the length of the combat op center's (COC) stairwell, April 29.
CAMP DELARAM II – As Camp Delaram II continues to grow, the sailors of Naval Mobile Construction Bn 133 continue to build. Nearly twice its size and supporting hundreds of new occupants, the camp's construction team hasn't slowed down yet. Commonly known as "Sea Bees" throughout the Marine Corps and Navy, the construction bn has been giving a new face to Camp Delaram II, since their arrival in mid-March. After completing a series of projects that include grading and leveling specific sites throughout the camp for future construction, they are currently working on a COC for the oncoming 31st Georgian Bn. "We've been working on it for 8 days, from the ground up," said Senior Chief John Cunningham, senior enlisted advisor of NMCB 133. "Due to the environment and the type of conditions here, we throw a little bit more quality control into the structure," said Cunningham. Cunningham's sailors have applied extra brace supporters underneath the structure and in the roof, to ensure the structure lasts through the windy and sand storm seasons. Petty Officer 3rd Class Justin Koontz, is currently working on the Georgian's COC's door frames.
Koontz commented that he loves his job. Along with building structures aboard camps, Koontz has done humanitarian work with other units throughout the Navy. "We get to help people," said Koontz. "We build things that they can't afford; schools, churches, houses." Koontz has participated in humanitarian projects in Manila, Okinawa and Indonesia.
Petty Officer 3rd Class Charlie Kissam, holds a level against a newly constructed portion of the future 31st Georgian Bn COC while 2 sailors hold it steady.
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"AFPAK Hands" Begin Immersion Training
"AFPAK Hands is a group of experts -- specifically trained to become experts in the Afghan and Pakistani cultures," said Army Maj. Geoff Kent, a project coordinator for AFPAK Hands at the Pentagon. "These are the folks that are going to build relationships. These are the people that the Afghans are going to want to go to when they've got a problem, where they want to discuss an issue."
Besides their language and counterinsurgency training, each AFPAK Hands brings specific skill sets including expertise in governance, engineering, intel, finance and force protection. They're also going to be assigned as mentors to govt and military officials. "They're going to be placed in strategic positions where they can make an immediate impact," Kent said. "I think it's a phenomenal program," Member of 1st AFPAK Hands Cohort AF Maj. Christy Barry, a lawyer, who said, "I wish we'd done it sooner. I think this will turn the tide and bring peace and stability to Afghanistan. I'm honored to be part of it."Army Lt. Col. Ken Scheidt, an OIF veteran, was the cmdr of a mobilization training unit at Fort Lewis, Wash., before he was selected for AFPAK Hands. He said he'll be working in a joint position in Nangahar prov. "I would recommend it to the right person," Scheidt said. "You have to want to do it." Of the 281 AFPH billets, 253 will be stationed in Afghanistan with 28 in Pakistan. It's equally important for ISAF to develop the relationships with the Pakistan military, as it is with the Afghan people and ANA, Kent said. At the most basic level, Mason, an Afghanistan veteran who will be stationed in an engr office in Tarin Kowt, said she wanted to help make the AFPAK Hands program better for the next group of AFPAK Hands. Her expectations are that she'll use her engr background in the field, and to interact with local woman.
Story by Sgt. 1st Class Matthew Chlosta
Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal, cmdr, ISAF speaks with the 1st class of AFPAK Hands' service members and civilians, April 27 at the Counterinsurgency Training Academy (COIN) on Camp Julien.
CAMP JULIEN — The ISAF is trying to build better long term relationships with the Afghan and Pakistan people, govt and military, using the AFPAK Hands program. AFPAK Hands is a new language and cultural immersion initiative, developed last summer, and stood up in the fall by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Navy Adm. Mike Mullen. The program is billed as a new way to build trust with the military and local populations, in both Afghanistan and Pakistan. In Afghanistan AFPAK Hands will help ISAF accelerate the continual transition of more responsibility to the ANSF and the GoA. "It's a positive change to the way we do business here," said AF Master Sgt. Irene Mason, an engr and member of the 1st AFPAK Hands Cohort, "because the Afghans value personal relationships." The ANA officers who attended the COIN Training with the 1st class of AFPAK Hands, were very excited and surprised to hear Americans speaking to them in their native language. "They know Dari and Pashto, and we like that," said ANA 1st Lt. Sherzai. "Without an interpreter or translator they can solve the problem by themselves. They can contact the ANSF themselves."
"AFPAK Hands is a group of experts -- specifically trained to become experts in the Afghan and Pakistani cultures," said Army Maj. Geoff Kent, a project coordinator for AFPAK Hands at the Pentagon. "These are the folks that are going to build relationships. These are the people that the Afghans are going to want to go to when they've got a problem, where they want to discuss an issue."
Besides their language and counterinsurgency training, each AFPAK Hands brings specific skill sets including expertise in governance, engineering, intel, finance and force protection. They're also going to be assigned as mentors to govt and military officials. "They're going to be placed in strategic positions where they can make an immediate impact," Kent said. "I think it's a phenomenal program," Member of 1st AFPAK Hands Cohort AF Maj. Christy Barry, a lawyer, who said, "I wish we'd done it sooner. I think this will turn the tide and bring peace and stability to Afghanistan. I'm honored to be part of it."Army Lt. Col. Ken Scheidt, an OIF veteran, was the cmdr of a mobilization training unit at Fort Lewis, Wash., before he was selected for AFPAK Hands. He said he'll be working in a joint position in Nangahar prov. "I would recommend it to the right person," Scheidt said. "You have to want to do it." Of the 281 AFPH billets, 253 will be stationed in Afghanistan with 28 in Pakistan. It's equally important for ISAF to develop the relationships with the Pakistan military, as it is with the Afghan people and ANA, Kent said. At the most basic level, Mason, an Afghanistan veteran who will be stationed in an engr office in Tarin Kowt, said she wanted to help make the AFPAK Hands program better for the next group of AFPAK Hands. Her expectations are that she'll use her engr background in the field, and to interact with local woman.
AF Master Sgt. Irene Mason speaks Dari to an ANA officer.
AF Maj. Christy Barry, a lawyer speaks Dari with ANA officers at the CITA on Camp Julien.
Center, AF Master Sgt. Irene Mason, listens to counter insurgency training.
Left, British Army Maj. Edward Whishaw, a COIN Academy instructor, participates in a simulated shura during counter insurgency training.
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Indiana NG Earn German Army Proficiency Badges
(Photos by Spc. Matthew McKinney)
CAMP ALAMO - Indiana Army NG Soldier, Master Sgt. John Plasse, familiarizes himself with the German G36 rifle, before competing in the Schützenschnur competition at the Camp Alamo Range, Kabul, April 23. Plasse earned the Gold Badge for his performance during the Schützenschnur, under the supervision of German army soldiers.
Indiana Army NG Soldiers assigned to 38th ID's TF Cyclone, (L-R) Spc. Anthony Sgroi, Master Sgt. John Plasse, Spc. Matthew McKinney, display their Schützenschnur, German Army Weapon Proficiency Badges, with German Army members stationed at Camp Warehouse, Kabul, April 23. These Soldiers were given the opportunity to compete in this unique experience.
Indiana Army NG Soldier, Spc. Matthew McKinney, fires the German P8 pistol during the Schützenschnur competition. McKinney earned the Gold Badge for his performance.
Indiana Army NG Soldier, Spc. Anthony Sgroi fires the German P8 pistol. Sgroi earned the Silver Badge.
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IRAQI STORIES:
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Ninewa PRT at JSS Tal Abtha Micro-grant Workshop (Photos by Petty Officer 2nd Class Rufus Hucks)
MOSUL - Sgt. 1st Class Scott Collum, 2nd BCT, 3rd ID, distributes a micro-grant to a Tal Abtha business man, after a micro-grant workshop at JSS Tal Abtha, April 28. Micro-grants are designed to jump start local economies from the bottom up.
Members of the Ninewa PRT meet with Tal Abtha businessmen. The PRT's goal is to assist local business owners in creating the foundation for a financially stable Iraq.
Matthew Myers, Ninewa PRT, meets with Tal Abtha businessmen.
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Students graduate leadership and partnership courses
BAGHDAD - Students from 2 simultaneous courses in the MoD Training and Developing Center graduated, April 28. The Cmds Development Course had 38 graduates, and the Partnership Course had 25 graduates. The graduates were Iraqi senior leaders representing both the MoD and the MoI.
"We must proactively pursue professional development in order to defeat our enemies," said IA Lt. Gen. Dohi, Dep. Chief of Staff for Training. He encouraged the graduates to continue to their professional growth through reading.
The partnership course focused on cultural value sharing and developing strategies for problem solving. In the cmdr's course the graduates were taught the leadership elements that are important to the security ministries.
"Although the courses have a slightly different focus, it shows the collaboration between the U.S. and Iraq, in teaching and sharing values between both countries," said Mr. John Johns, Dir. of Strategic Logistics for U.S. Forces-I, Dep. Comm. Gen. for Advising and Training. "It was a very important event," said Johns.
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USF-I
ISF arrest four suspected AQI criminal associates in Kirkuk
BAGHDAD - ISF arrested 4 suspected AQI criminal assocs. during a joint security op conducted in Kirkuk, May 2, 2010.
ISF and U.S. advisors searched several buildings for a suspected AQI member linked to terrorist attacks. Info and evidence gathered at the scene led Iraqi forces to identify and arrest the warranted individual, and 3 criminal assocs.
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USF-I
May 2, 2010
Suspected AQI criminal associate arrested in west Baghdad
BAGHDAD - ISF arrested a suspected AQI criminal associate during a series of joint security ops conducted in west Baghdad, May 2.
ISF and U.S. advisors searched 2 buildings for a suspected senior AQI leader in Mansour. Info and evidence gathered at one of the scenes led Iraqi forces to identify and arrest one suspected criminal associate of the warranted individual.
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